Humidifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifier is disclosed which includes a desiccant wheel, and a heat exchanger adapted to heat-exchange air dehumidified in an absorption chamber with air introduced into a regeneration chamber. The heat of the air dehumidified in the absorption chamber can be used to increase the temperature of ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber, thereby reducing the load of a heater to heat the temperature of the ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber, and thus, achieving a reduction in the power consumption of the heater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a humidifier, and, more particularly, to a humidifier which is capable of using heat of air dehumidified in an absorption chamber to heat air sucked into a regeneration chamber, thereby reducing the load of a heater adapted to heat the air sucked into the regeneration chamber, and thus, achieving a reduction in power consumption.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, air conditioners are used to form more comfortable indoor environments for users. Such an air conditioner includes a dehumidifier for dehumidifying a confined space, for example, a room, a humidifier for humidifying the room, and a ventilator for ventilating the room. For the humidifier, a humidifier, which does not require supply of water, may be used. Such a humidifier uses a desiccant wheel made of a desiccant, and humidifies air present in the room where the humidifier is installed, using moisture absorbing and releasing functions of the desiccant wheel.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an inner structure of a conventional humidifier. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional humidifier includes a body 2, and a desiccant wheel 6 arranged in the interior of the body 2, and adapted to perform absorption of moisture and release of the absorbed moisture.

A barrier 4 is mounted in the interior of the body 2 to partition the interior of the body 2 into an absorption chamber 10, in which absorption of moisture from air introduced into the absorption chamber 10 is carried out, and a regeneration chamber 20, in which release of moisture to air introduced into the regeneration chamber 20 is carried out.

The desiccant wheel 6 is mounted to the barrier 4 in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle while extending through the barrier 4 such that one portion of the desiccant wheel 6 is positioned in the absorption chamber 10, and the other portion of the desiccant wheel 6 is positioned in the regeneration chamber 20. A rotator (not shown) such as a motor is coupled to the desiccant wheel 6, in order to turn the desiccant wheel 6 such that the positions of the portions of the desiccant wheel 6 are reversed, after the desiccant wheel 6 has been used for a predetermined time.

The absorption chamber 10 is provided with a first inlet 12, through which ambient air is introduced into the absorption chamber 10, and a first outlet 14, through which air dehumidified in the absorption chamber 10 is outwardly discharged. The regeneration chamber 20 is provided with a second inlet 22, through which ambient air is introduced into the regeneration chamber 20, and a second outlet 24, through which air humidified in the regeneration chamber 20 is discharged into the room.

The first inlet 12 is formed at a rear wall of the body 2. The first outlet 14 and second inlet 22 are formed at a front wall of the body 2. The second outlet 24 is formed at one side wall of the body 2.

A first blowing fan 16 is arranged in the absorption chamber 10, to generate a blowing force for sucking ambient air into the absorption chamber 10 through the first inlet 12, and outwardly discharging the sucked air through the first outlet 14. A second blowing fan 26 is arranged in the regeneration chamber 20, to generate a blowing force for sucking ambient air into the regeneration chamber 20 through the second inlet 22, and discharging the sucked air into the room through the second outlet 24.

A first flow guide 18 is arranged in the absorption chamber 10. The first flow guide 18 partitions the absorption chamber 10 into a suction chamber portion where the first inlet 12 is arranged and a discharge chamber portion where the first outlet 14 is arranged, to guide ambient air sucked into the absorption chamber 10 through the first inlet 12 to be outwardly discharged through the first outlet 14 after passing through the desiccant wheel 6.

A second flow guide 28 is arranged in the regeneration chamber 20. The second flow guide 28 partitions the regeneration chamber 20 into a suction chamber portion where the second inlet 22 is arranged and a discharge chamber portion where the second outlet 24 is arranged, to guide ambient air sucked into the regeneration chamber 20 through the second inlet 12 to be discharged into the room through the second outlet 24 after passing through the desiccant wheel 6.

A heater 30 is arranged in the regeneration chamber 20, to heat the air sucked into the regeneration chamber 20 through the second inlet 22.

Meanwhile, a third flow guide 7 is arranged in the suction chamber portion of the regeneration chamber 20, to define a cooling chamber portion 8 in which one portion of the desiccant wheel 6 heated in the regeneration chamber 20 is cooled by the air sucked into the regeneration chamber 20 before being turned toward the absorption chamber 10.

Hereinafter, operation of the conventional humidifier having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.

First, when the first blowing fan 16 in the absorption chamber 10 operates, ambient air is sucked into the absorption chamber 10 through the first inlet 12, to pass the desiccant wheel 6. Moisture contained in the sucked air is absorbed into the desiccant wheel 6 while the sucked air passes the desiccant wheel 6, so that the sucked air is dehumidified.

The air dehumidified by the desiccant wheel 6 is then outwardly discharged from the absorption chamber 10 through the first outlet 14.

Meanwhile, when the second blowing fan 26 in the regeneration chamber 20 operates, ambient air is sucked into the regeneration chamber 20 through the second inlet 22, and is then heated by the heater 30. The heated air then dries the desiccant wheel 6 while passing through the desiccant wheel 6.

As the desiccant wheel 6 is dried by the heated air, moisture is released from the desiccant wheel 6 to the air. That is, the air is humidified by the desiccant wheel 6. The humidified air is then discharged into the room through the second outlet 24.

However, since the conventional humidifier heats ambient air sucked into the regeneration chamber 20 to a predetermined temperature or above, in order to more effectively release moisture from the desiccant wheel 6, an increased amount of electric power is consumed due to the use of the heater 30, thereby resulting in an increase in maintenance costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described related art, and it is an object to provide a humidifier capable of reducing the load of a heater used in the humidifier, and thus, achieving a reduction in power consumption.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a humidifier comprising: a body; a barrier which partitions the interior of the body into an absorption chamber and a regeneration chamber; a turnable desiccant wheel arranged in the interior of the body while extending through the barrier such that one portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the absorption chamber, to perform absorption of moisture, and the other portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the regeneration chamber, to perform release of moisture; a heater arranged in the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber; and a heat exchanger arranged at an inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat-exchange the air introduced into the regeneration chamber with air dehumidified in the absorption chamber.

The heat exchanger may comprise at least one channel adapted to guide the air dehumidified in the absorption chamber to flow across the inlet side of the regeneration chamber.

The at least one channel may comprise a plurality of uniformly-spaced channels.

The heat exchanger and the heater may be arranged at opposite sides of the desiccant wheel, respectively.

The humidifier may further comprise a cooler arranged at the inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to cool the portion of the desiccant wheel dehumidified in the regeneration chamber before being turned toward the absorption chamber, using the air introduced into the regeneration chamber.

The heat exchanger may be arranged in the cooler.

The humidifier may further comprise an absorption-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the absorption chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air, and a regeneration-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the regeneration chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air.

The absorption-side blowing fan may be arranged in an absorption-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the heat exchanger to outwardly discharge air emerging from the heat exchanger.

The regeneration-side blowing fan may be arranged in a regeneration-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the regeneration chamber to outwardly discharge air humidified in the regeneration chamber.

The absorption-side blowing fan and the regeneration-side blowing fan may be arranged at upper and lower positions in the interior of the body, respectively.

In accordance with the humidifier of the present invention, the heat of the air dehumidified while passing through the absorption chamber is used to increase the temperature of the air sucked into the regeneration chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the load of the heater to heat the temperature of the air sucked into the regeneration chamber, and thus, to reduce the power consumption of the heater.

In addition, since the absorption-side blowing fan and regeneration-side blowing fan are vertically arranged in the interior of the body, respectively, it is possible to reduce the size of the humidifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an inner structure of a conventional humidifier;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an inner structure of a humidifier according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the annexed drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an inner structure of a humidifier according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the humidifier according to the present invention includes a body 50, a barrier 52 which partitions the interior of the body 50 into an absorption chamber 60 and a regeneration chamber 70, a desiccant wheel 54 arranged in the interior of the body 50 such that the desiccant wheel 54 extends through the barrier 52, and a rotator (not shown) adapted to turn the desiccant wheel 54. The humidifier also includes a heater 56 arranged in the regeneration chamber 70, and adapted to heat ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber 70, and a heat exchanger arranged at an inlet side of the regeneration chamber 70, and adapted to heat-exchange the air introduced into the regeneration chamber 70 with air dehumidified in the absorption chamber 60.

The desiccant wheel 54 is mounted to the barrier 52 in the interior of the body 50 in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle while extending through the barrier 52 such that one portion of the desiccant wheel 54 is positioned in the absorption chamber 60, and the other portion of the desiccant wheel 54 is positioned in the regeneration chamber 70.

The portion of the desiccant wheel 54 positioned in the absorption chamber 60 functions to absorb moisture from air passing through the absorption chamber 60, whereas the portion of the desiccant wheel 54 positioned in the regeneration chamber 70 functions to release moisture from air passing through the regeneration chamber 70.

After being used for a predetermined time, the desiccant wheel 54 is turned by the rotator (not shown), in order to enable the desiccant wheel portion humidified in the absorption chamber 60 to be regenerated in the regeneration chamber 70. For the rotator, a motor may be used which includes a rotating shaft axially coupled to a rotation center of the desiccant wheel 54. Alternatively, a motor may be used which is connected to the desiccant wheel 54 via a belt wound around the desiccant wheel 54.

The absorption chamber 60 is provided with an absorption-side inlet 62, through which ambient air is introduced into the absorption chamber 60. Also, the regeneration chamber 70 is provided with a regeneration-side inlet 72, through which ambient air is introduced into the regeneration chamber 70.

Meanwhile, a first flow guide 58 is arranged in a portion of the regeneration chamber 70 where the regeneration-side inlet 72 is arranged, to define a cooling chamber, namely, a cooler 80, in which the portion of the desiccant wheel 54 dehumidified in the regeneration chamber 70 is cooled by the air introduced into the regeneration chamber 70 before being turned toward the absorption chamber 60.

The first flow guide 58 extends horizontally in the regeneration chamber 70 to partition the interior of the regeneration chamber 70 into an upper chamber portion and a lower chamber portion. The lower chamber portion of the regeneration chamber 70, which is arranged in front of the regeneration-side inlet 72, constitutes the cooler 80. The upper chamber portion of the regeneration chamber 70 constitutes a moisture releasing chamber portion where the desiccant wheel 54 releases moisture to the air emerging from the cooler 80.

Meanwhile, the heat exchanger comprises at least one channel 82 which is arranged in the cooler 80 while traversing the inlet side of the regeneration chamber 70, and through which the air dehumidified in the absorption chamber 60 passes.

In the illustrated case, a plurality of uniformly-spaced channels 82 are arranged in the cooler 80, and guide the air dehumidified in the absorption chamber 60 to flow across the inlet side of the regeneration chamber 70.

The humidifier further includes an absorption-side blowing fan 64 for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the absorption chamber 60 through the first inlet 62, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air, and a regeneration-side blowing fan 74 for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the regeneration chamber 70 through the second inlet 72, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air.

For the absorption-side blowing fan 64 and generation blowing fan 74, sirocco fans may be used, respectively.

The absorption-side blowing fan 64 and regeneration-side blowing fan 74 are arranged in an absorption-side blowing chamber 84 and a regeneration-side blowing chamber 86 defined in lower and upper portions of the interior of the body 50, respectively.

The absorption-side blowing chamber 84 is arranged at the outlet side of the channels 82, whereas the regeneration-side blowing chamber 86 is arranged at the outlet side of the regeneration chamber 70 over the absorption-side blowing chamber 84.

An absorption-side outlet 66 is provided at the absorption-side blowing chamber 84, in order to outwardly discharge air emerging from the channels 82. A regeneration-side outlet 76 is provided at the regeneration-side blowing chamber 86, in order to outwardly discharge air humidified in the regeneration chamber 70.

The absorption-side blowing chamber 84 and the regeneration chamber 70 are separated from each other by a second flow guide 78 arranged in the interior of the body 50. The second flow guide 78 functions to guide the air sucked into the interior of the body 50 to be outwardly discharged through the regeneration-side outlet 76 after passing through the desiccant wheel 54.

Operation of the humidifier having the above-described configuration according to the present invention will now be described.

First, when the absorption-side blowing fan 64 operates, ambient air is sucked into the absorption chamber 60 through the absorption-side inlet 62. The sucked air then passes the desiccant wheel 54.

At this time, the desiccant wheel 54 absorbs moisture from the air passing through the desiccant wheel 54 in the absorption chamber 60, so that the air is dehumidified. During the dehumidification, the air is heated by the desiccant wheel 54.

The air dehumidified while passing through the desiccant wheel 54 is introduced into the absorption-side blowing chamber 84 via the channels 82, and is then outwardly discharged through the absorption-side outlet 66.

Meanwhile, when the regeneration-side blowing fan 74 operates, ambient air is sucked into the cooler 80 through the regeneration-side inlet 72. The air sucked into the cooler 80 then passes through passages each defined between adjacent ones of the channels 82. While passing through the passages, the air heat-exchanges with the dehumidified air passing through the channels 82.

That is, heat from the dehumidified air is transferred to the air sucked into the cooler 80 because the dehumidified air has been heated.

As a result, the air sucked into the cooler 80 is heated to a certain temperature by the heat received from the dehumidified air. Accordingly, the load of the heater 56 operating to heat the sucked air to a predetermined temperature is reduced.

The air, which emerges from the cooler 80, is then heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 56. The heated air then flows upwards along the desiccant wheel 54, thereby drying the desiccant wheel 54.

As the desiccant wheel 54 is dried, the desiccant wheel 54 releases moisture to the air passing through the desiccant wheel 54. The air humidified while passing through the desiccant wheel 54 is introduced into the regeneration-side blowing chamber 86, and is then discharged to the room through the regeneration-side outlet 76.

Accordingly, the room is humidified because the humidified air is discharged to the room.

Meanwhile, the desiccant wheel 54 is turned after a predetermined time elapses, so that the portion of the desiccant wheel 54 positioned in the regeneration chamber 70 to release moisture passes through the cooler 80, so as to be cooled by the air sucked into the cooler 80 through the regeneration-side inlet 72. The cooled portion of the desiccant wheel 54 is then positioned in the absorption chamber 60.

Thus, the function of the desiccant wheel 54 to absorb moisture from air in the absorption chamber 60 can be effectively carried out.

The humidifier having the above-described configuration according to the present invention has various effects.

That is, in accordance with the humidifier of the present invention, the heat of the air dehumidified while passing through the absorption chamber is used to increase the temperature of the air sucked into the regeneration chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the load of the heater to heat the temperature of the air sucked into the regeneration chamber, and thus, to reduce the power consumption of the heater.

In addition, since the absorption-side blowing fan and regeneration-side blowing fan are vertically arranged in the interior of the body, respectively, it is possible to reduce the size of the humidifier.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A humidifier comprising: a body; a barrier which partitions the interior of the body into an absorption chamber and a regeneration chamber; a turnable desiccant wheel arranged in the interior of the body while extending through the barrier such that one portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the absorption chamber, to perform absorption of moisture, and the other portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the regeneration chamber, to perform release of moisture; a heater arranged in the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber; and a heat exchanger arranged at an inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat-exchange the air introduced into the regeneration chamber with air dehumidified in the absorption chamber.
 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one channel adapted to guide the air dehumidified in the absorption chamber to flow across the inlet side of the regeneration chamber.
 3. The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the at least one channel comprises a plurality of uniformly-spaced channels.
 4. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger and the heater are arranged at opposite sides of the desiccant wheel, respectively.
 5. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising: a cooler arranged at the inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to cool the portion of the desiccant wheel dehumidified in the regeneration chamber before being turned toward the absorption chamber, using the air introduced into the regeneration chamber.
 6. The humidifier according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger is arranged in the cooler.
 7. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising: an absorption-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the absorption chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air; and a regeneration-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the regeneration chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air.
 8. The humidifier according to claim 6, wherein the absorption-side blowing fan is arranged in an absorption-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the heat exchanger to outwardly discharge air emerging from the heat exchanger.
 9. The humidifier according to claim 6, wherein the regeneration-side blowing fan is arranged in a regeneration-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the regeneration chamber to outwardly discharge air humidified in the regeneration chamber.
 10. The humidifier according to claim 6, wherein the absorption-side blowing fan and the regeneration-side blowing fan are arranged at upper and lower positions in the interior of the body, respectively.
 11. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotary driver for turning the desiccant wheel.
 12. A humidifier comprising: a body; a barrier which partitions the interior of the body into an absorption chamber and a regeneration chamber; a turnable desiccant wheel arranged in the interior of the body while extending through the barrier such that one portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the absorption chamber, to perform absorption of moisture, and the other portion of the desiccant wheel is arranged in the regeneration chamber, to perform release of moisture; a heater arranged in the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber; at least one channel arranged at an inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to heat-exchange air dehumidified in the absorption chamber with the ambient air introduced into the regeneration chamber; an absorption-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck ambient air into the absorption chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air; and a regeneration-side blowing fan for generating a blowing force to suck the ambient air into the regeneration chamber, and to outwardly discharge the sucked air.
 13. The humidifier according to claim 12, wherein the absorption-side blowing fan and the regeneration-side blowing fan are arranged at upper and lower positions in the interior of the body, respectively.
 14. The humidifier according to claim 12, wherein the absorption-side blowing fan is arranged in an absorption-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the channel to outwardly discharge air emerging from the channel.
 15. The humidifier according to claim 12, wherein the regeneration-side blowing fan is arranged in a regeneration-side blowing chamber defined in the interior of the body at an outlet side of the regeneration chamber to outwardly discharge air humidified in the regeneration chamber.
 16. The humidifier according to claim 12, wherein the at least one channel comprises a plurality of uniformly-spaced channels.
 17. The humidifier according to claim 16, wherein the channels and the heater are arranged at opposite sides of the desiccant wheel, respectively.
 18. The humidifier according to claim 12, further comprising: a cooler arranged at the inlet side of the regeneration chamber, and adapted to cool the portion of the desiccant wheel dehumidified in the regeneration chamber before being turned toward the absorption chamber, using the air introduced into the regeneration chamber.
 19. The humidifier according to claim 18, wherein the channel is arranged in the cooler.
 20. The humidifier according to claim 12, further comprising: a rotary driver for turning the desiccant wheel. 